Every year on the first Sunday of April, Turkmenistan celebrates an official national holiday called «Drop of water — grain of gold» (Turkm). Suw damjasy – altyn dänesi).
This is a literal translation from Turkmen of the name of the holiday. It was conceived as a reminder of the true price of water and was established in 1995 by decree of the President of Turkmenistan Saparmurat Niyazov, who officially proclaimed as his goal the artificial mitigation of the harsh climate of the Karakum desert and the transformation of Turkmenistan into a resort of world significance.
In 2006, Saparmurat Niyazov, in his address to the people on this day, noted that: « A wonderful holiday that we began to celebrate in the era of independence, — is a holiday of the people’s dream of water come true, generous gratitude to the water-filled land, this holiday — is a symbol of precious moisture, turning our steppes and plains into blooming oases».
It is a celebration of the water that has always been lacking in the arid arid zones of Central Asia. Therefore, adhering to the traditions of their ancestors, who have dreamed of water abundance for centuries, remembering their orders and instructions, workers in the water industry of Turkmenistan, together with farmers from all regions of the country, are doing a lot of work to reclamate cultivated areas, develop new irrigated lands, taking care of the careful use of water resources.
In the Republic, the area of existing reservoirs is regularly increasing and new reservoirs are being built, irrigation networks are being laid, new canals are being built, their beds are being cleaned and updated, and modern irrigation technologies are being introduced.
In order to rationally use the country's water resources, water-saving technologies are increasingly being used, and among the state's priorities is providing the population with clean drinking water.
Being a national holiday, «A drop of water — a grain of gold» remains a professional holiday for Turkmen land reclamation workers and all water workers in the country.
On this day, they receive congratulations from friends, colleagues and management, and particularly distinguished industry workers receive state awards, memorable gifts and gratitude.
In all major cities of Turkmenistan and near large reclamation buildings during the holiday, various festive theatrical performances and concerts of pop and folk groups of the country are held. Events dedicated to the water festival, as a rule, take place near reservoirs of — rivers, lakes and canals.